Process of cutting fabric and product thereof



Patented Aug. 26, 1930 PATENT OFFICE" W DBIYTUS, NEW YORK, N. Y.

moms O1 C TTING FABRIC AND PRODUCT TKIBEOI' 7 This invention relates to the method of cuttin fabric made of thermoplastic or organic derlvatives of cellulose in such a manner that the cut edges will not fray or ravel. .This

application is in part a continuation of my PIlOI applications No. 206,120, filed July 15, 1927, and No. 224,287, filed Oct. 5, 1927.

An object of my invention is to cut fabrics in such a manner that the 'cut fabric will not fray or ravel along its edges. A further object of my invention is to provide a method of cutting fabrics so that it is not necessary to hem or otherwise fold or sew the cut edges in order to prevent fraying. Other objects of my invention will appear from the following detailed description;

Heretofore whenever a woven or knitted fabric was cut in the ordinary manner such as by means of a knife orshears, it has been 2 necessary to hem or sew the cut edge before the fabric could be usedin order to avoid fraying or ravelling along the cut edge. The

ravellin or fraying of cut fabrics has always previous y beenconsidered a necessary e I Furthermore, in the making of ribbons, it

- has been necessary to weave each ribbon as a separate unit. To be'sure it has been possible to weave several ribbons on one loom, made specially for this pur ,but in order to prevent fraying or rave ling along the edge, it has been necessary to weave a selvedge on each edge of the ribbon. This method I of makin ribbon is costl both in time consumed'in making the rib n and in the initial cost of the looms. Some tapes have been made by cutting strips from wi er fabric and then hemming the edges of such method is not a plicable to making ribbon as the added clmess and the necessary stitching are objectionable. even for tapes, the cost of the extra materi and labor involved is considerable.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a method of cuttin fabric wherebythe cut fabric may be used y without any further 0 rations to avoid fraying.

The fa ric to be used in practicing my invention is made in whole or m part 0 a material that can be dissolved by a solvent, or can be softened by a softening agent. Among the Moreover the strip. Obviously muse... fled August a, ma. Serial No. 898,406.

materials that may be used are thermoplastic compounds of cellulose or other derivatives of cellulose, particularly the organic derivatives or'cellulose, such as organic esters of cellulose and cellulose ethers. Examples of organic esters-of cellulose are cellulose formate, cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate and cellulose butyrate. Examples of others of cellulose are methyl cellulose ethyl cellulose and benzyl cellulose. The fabric may be com osed enso tirely of one of the above compounds or of a mixture of two or more of such compounds. Moreover, the fabric need not be made entirely of the above cellulose compounds, but may be amixed fabric containing yarnsof the above 06 cellulose compounds and arns of vegetableor animal fibres. Examp es of such mixed fabrics are, mixed cellulose acetate and natural silk, mixed cellulose acetate and cotton,

mixed cellulose acetate and wool, etc. The

fabric to be used in practicing my invention may be of any desired construction. It may be a woven fabric ofany desired weave, or it ma be a circular or warp knitted fabric.

carrying out my invention, a. fabric constituted as above set forth, is cut into the desired configuration by means of knives or other cutting means which may be either hot or cold and the cut edges are sealed against fraying by the action ofthe solvent or of a softemng agent.

In one form of my invention, the cut edges of the fabric are sealed against frayin or ravelling by applying a so vent to the e in any suitable manner. \The solvent should 5 preferably beapplied in such a manner that the solvent is permitted to remain only at the edge of the material being treated or-is permitted to penetrate to a point only slighty removed from the leaves a film of the material which acts as edtghe in order to preal vent the destruction of, e fabric. Among a sealing means for, or bond between, the cut edges of the yarn. Instead of using agents which are so drastic in their action as to be classed as solvents, softening agents such as triacetin, dieth. l phthalate, may be used for the'purpose 0 sealing the cut edge. The solvent or softening agent may be ap-' plied to the sides of a rotating or reciprocating cutting blade and thus applied to the cut edge of the fabric.

The fabric used in my process may be of any desired weave or it ma even be a kmt fabric. The application of t process to circular knit fabrlcs composed of the material as set forth above presents great advantages, since ordinary methods of cutting this material cannot be used because of its ronounced tendency to ladder or run.

owever, when a solvent or softenin agent is applied to the cut ed es in accor ance with my nvention, the so ution of the material along the edge will serve to coalesce theadjacent threads or aments to effectively prevent any laddering at the edge. This is especially valuable, since it ma es possible the use of circular knit fabric in a manner heretofore impossible.

This method of cutting and sealin fabric. isof general application and may used to cut fabrics into any desired shape or orm.- Among the many uses may be suggested the making of bias tape by cutting fabric on the bias into strips. Such tape need not be folded as is dinary bias ta By this invention, ribbons, webs an tapes may be made from fabrics of standard width, instead of weav-' necessary with -ormg each' width individually.

's lnvention is useful in making arments, since the sealed edges act as selve ges and therefore it is not necessary to make any hems. In the malnng of garments with fabric cut in accordance with my invention, the only sewing necessary is the makin of a more simple seam where pieces of fa rie.

are to be joined. Moreover, where flat articles of any shape whatsoever are to be made, suchas table covers,'doilies, strips, etc: no sewing whatever is necessary by the. use of my invention since when such articles are cut by my process, no hemming is necessary to avoid fraying or ravelling. Likewise, in the making of shoulder straps for feminine wearing apparel the straps may be made with varying width without any bulky hems. By the use of my invention, not only is the time and labor of sewing avoided, but articles of greater beauty and less bulkiness may be made. A

-While I have described my invention in I detail, it is to be understood that many va- -cut edge thereof against in a direction moval of secure by Letters Pating or ravelling by at least ing or dissolvin the edge to ha" or softening agent.

Process of preparing a cut fabric composed at leastin part of cellulose acetate comprising cutting such fabric and sealing the fraying or ravelling (partially softening or dissolving then causing the edge to harden by at least the edge an by removing the solvent or softening agent.

4. Process of cutting a fpiece of fabric com; posed at least in part 0 a material that is soluble in a solvent comprising cutting the same in a direction irrespective of the weave or knit thereof, applying a solvent or softenin agent to the cut edge, and then causing the e ge to harden by removing the solvent or softening agent.

5. Process of cutting a piece of fabric composed at least in part of an organic derivative of cellulose comprising cutting the same irrespective of the weave or and sealing the cut edge thereof against frayknit thereof, applying a solvent or softening agent to the cut edge, and then causing the edge to harden by removing the solvent or softening agent.

v '6. Process of cutting a piece of fabric composed at least in part of cellulose acetate comprising cu tting the same in a direction irrespectiveiof the weave or knit thereof, applying a solvent or softening agent to the cut edge, and then causing the edge to harden byremoving the solvent or softening agent.

7. A piece of fabric composed at least in part ofa material that is soluble in a solvent having an edge'that has been sealed against fraying by softening or solution in a softening agent or solvent, and the subsequent re the solvent or softening agent.

8. A piece of fabric composed at least in part of an organic derivative of cellulose having an edge that has been scaled against fraying by softening or solution in a softening and the subsequent removal of the solvent or softening agent.

10. A garment havin pieces of fabric joined together by a sim e seam,- said pieces of fabric being compose at least in part of a material that is soluble in a solvent and which has been scaled against frayin by solution or softening in a solvent or so tening agent, and the subsequent removal of the solvent or softenin agent.

11. A garment aving pieces of fabric 17 oined together by a simple seam, said pieces of fabric being composed at least in part of an organic derivative of cellulose and which has been scaled against fraying by solution or softening in a solvent or softening agent, and the subsequent removal of the solvent or softening agent.

12. A garment having pieces of fabric joined together by a simple seam, said pieces of fabric being composed at least in part of cellulose acetate and which has been sealed against fraying by solution or softening in a solvent or softening agent, and the subse quent removal of the solvent or softening agent In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

v CAMILLE DREYFUSa 

